The Hometown Fund will support large, community-driven capital projects in the heart of the city
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Rooted in place and responsive to both the opportunities and challenges shaping Roseburg, The Ford Family Foundation has announced the creation of the Hometown Fund, dedicated to supporting visionary, catalytic community projects that will transform the heart of our city. Over the next ten years, this $10 million fund will support projects that unite partners across sectors and help turn community vision into action.
“We’re following the community’s lead,” said Kara Inae Carlisle, president and CEO of The Ford Family Foundation. “There’s real energy behind efforts to bring new life to Roseburg. We want to invest in the efforts already under way and inspire others to be part of what comes next.”
For more than 30 years, the Foundation has been headquartered in Roseburg. Our founders, Kenneth Ford and Hallie Ford, lived in Laurelwood and actively volunteered and reinvested in our community. In 1957, they created a charitable foundation to give back to those who helped build their successful company, Roseburg Lumber (now Roseburg Forest Products). To this day, The Ford Family Foundation remains committed to the legacy of supporting kids, families and the community through grants, scholarships, leadership programs and local partnerships.
“There is momentum building here in Roseburg, and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Max Gimbel, director of rural community building. “Even as our community faces challenges, we see broad community leadership rolling up their sleeves to make this a thriving and desirable place to live. We see residents volunteering their time and talents, as well as major organizations, institutions, city and tribal governments aligning their visions and investments.”
Each year, we invest millions of dollars in Douglas County. These investments will continue. The Hometown Fund will operate in addition to our longstanding open grants program, meaning there is no wrong door for potential applicants. And while focused on Roseburg, the intention is for this investment to have ripple effects across Douglas County and to neighboring communities.
The Foundation will consider large capital requests up to $1 million as well as pre-development planning requests up to $75,000. Projects must be located within Roseburg city limits, with a special interest in the corridor connecting downtown to Stewart Parkway.
To learn more about the Hometown Fund, including eligibility details and how to apply, please visit: tfff.org/grants/hometown.
Download this press release PDF
Introducing the Hometown Fund MP4
About The Ford Family Foundation
The Ford Family Foundation believes in the power of rural communities. It is a private, nonprofit foundation proudly headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon, serving rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Its investments through grants, scholarships and community building create the conditions so that children have the family, educational and community supports they need to succeed in life. www.tfff.org
General media inquiries
Sarah Pytalski, Manager – Policy and Communications
(541) 492-2396, spytalski@tfff.org
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